Digital single-lens reflex camera

ABSTRACT

A digital single-lens reflex camera includes a lens unit, a storage medium and a camera body. The lens unit has a photographing lens and an identification data memory for storing identification data to identify the photographing lens. The storage medium stores lens data that indicates shading characteristics of the photographing lens. The lens unit and the storage medium are detachably attached to the camera body. The camera body has an imaging device, a lens data reader, and an image corrector. The imaging device receives light transmitted through the photographing lens to generate an image corresponding to a subject. The lens data reader reads the lens data based on the identification data. An image corrector corrects an error in the image of the subject caused by shading, based on the lens data read by the lens data reader and imaging device data that indicates shading characteristics of the imaging device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/322,244, filed Jan. 3, 2006, the disclosure of which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital single-lens reflex camerawhere the lens is exchangeable, especially it relates to a digitalsingle-lens reflex camera which can improve the quality of aphotographed image.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, the usage of digital single-lens reflex cameras has beengradually expanding, replacing the current silver-halide filmsingle-lens reflex cameras. Generally, in an interchangeable lens for adigital single-lens reflex camera, to identify the photographing lens,identification data and so on are stored. And when the interchangeablelens is attached to the camera body, the identification data and so onare transmitted to the camera body.

Lens exchangeable cameras having data to correct shading and so on fortheir interchangeable lenses, the data being stored in theinterchangeable lens, the camera body, or a storage medium, are known.In these cameras, one of the correction data for correcting shading andso on of the photographing lens under usage is selected based on theidentification data of the photographing lens.

When subjects are photographed using a digital camera, required amountof shading correction is not only dependent on the photographing lens,but is also dependent on the imaging device. This is because vignettinggenerally occurs when light transmitted through a photographing lensreaches an imaging device, and vignetting differs depending on the kindof imaging device, and also on the area of the imaging device.

Generally, micro lenses are provided on an imaging device, however, itis difficult to prevent vignetting from occurring by using only themicro lenses. Especially, in the case where the imaging device has manypixels, vignetting can not be corrected by using only the micro lenses,because the area of the photo diodes is small relative to a distancebetween micro lenses and the photo diodes. Therefore, shading correctionbased on only the characteristics of a photographing lens, sometimes cannot effectively prevent deterioration of the image quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a digitalsingle-lens reflex camera which enables images to be corrected based onthe combination of an interchangeable lens and an imaging device, and toprevent deterioration of the quality of the images.

A first digital single-lens reflex camera according to the presentinvention, includes a lens unit and a camera body. The lens unit has aphotographing lens and an identification data memory for storingidentification data to identify the photographing lens. The camera bodyto which the lens unit is detachably attached, has an imaging devicewhich receives light transmitted through the photographing lens togenerate an image corresponding to a subject, a lens data memory forstoring lens data that indicates the shading characteristics of thephotographing lens, a lens data reader that reads the lens data based onthe identification data, and an image corrector that corrects an errorin the image of the subject caused by shading, based on the lens dataread by the lens data reader and imaging device data that indicates theshading characteristics of the imaging device.

A first lens unit according to the present invention, includes aphotographing lens and an identification data memory for storingidentification data to identify the photographing lens. The lens unit isdetachably attached to a camera body having an imaging device whichreceives light transmitted through the photographing lens to generate animage corresponding to a subject, a lens data memory for storing lensdata that indicates the shading characteristics of the photographinglens, a lens data reader that reads the lens data based on theidentification data, and an image corrector that corrects an error inthe image of the subject caused by shading, based on the lens data readby the lens data reader and imaging device data that indicates theshading characteristics of the imaging device.

A first camera body according to the present invention, to which a lensunit having a photographing lens and an identification data memory forstoring identification data to identify the photographing lens, isdetachably attached, includes an imaging device which receives lighttransmitted through the photographing lens to generate an imagecorresponding to a subject, a lens data memory for storing lens datathat indicates the shading characteristics of the photographing lens, alens data reader that reads the lens data based on the identificationdata, and an image corrector that corrects an error in the image of thesubject caused by shading, based on the lens data read by the lens datareader and imaging device data that indicates the shadingcharacteristics of the imaging device.

A second digital single-lens reflex camera according to the presentinvention, includes a lens unit and a camera body. The lens unit has aphotographing lens and a lens data memory for storing lens data thatindicates the shading characteristics of the photographing lens. Thecamera body to which the lens unit is detachably attached, has animaging device which receives light transmitted through thephotographing lens to generate an image corresponding to a subject, alens data reader that reads the lens data, and an image corrector thatcorrects an error in the image of the subject caused by shading, basedon the lens data read by the lens data reader and imaging device datathat indicates the shading characteristics of the imaging device.

A second lens unit according to the present invention, includes aphotographing lens and a lens data memory for storing lens data thatindicates the shading characteristics of the photographing lens. Thelens unit is detachably attached to the camera body having an imagingdevice which receives light transmitted through the photographing lensto generate an image corresponding to a subject, a lens data reader thatreads the lens data, and an image corrector that corrects an error inthe image of the subject caused by shading, based on the lens data readby the lens data reader and imaging device data that indicates theshading characteristics of the imaging device.

A second camera body according to the present invention, to which a lensunit having a photographing lens and a lens data memory for storing lensdata that indicates the shading characteristics of the photographinglens, is detachably attached, includes an imaging device which receiveslight transmitted through the photographing lens to generate an imagecorresponding to a subject, a lens data reader that reads the lens data,and an image corrector that corrects an error in the image of thesubject caused by shading, based on the lens data read by the lens datareader and imaging device data that indicates the shadingcharacteristics of the imaging device.

A third digital single-lens reflex camera according to the presentinvention, includes a lens unit, a storage medium, and a camera body.The lens unit has a photographing lens and an identification data memoryfor storing identification data to identify the photographing lens. Thestorage medium is for storing lens data that indicates the shadingcharacteristics of the photographing lens. The camera body to which thelens unit and the storage medium are detachably attached, has an imagingdevice which receives light transmitted through the photographing lensto generate an image corresponding to a subject, a lens data reader thatreads the lens data based on the identification data, and an imagecorrector that corrects an error in the image of the subject caused byshading, based on the lens data read by the lens data reader and imagingdevice data that indicates the shading characteristics of the imagingdevice.

A third camera body according to the present invention, to which a lensunit having a photographing lens and an identification data memory forstoring identification data to identify the photographing lens, and astorage medium for storing lens data that indicates the shadingcharacteristics of the photographing lens, are detachably attached,includes an imaging device which receives light transmitted through thephotographing lens to generate an image corresponding to a subject, alens data memory for storing lens data that indicates the shadingcharacteristics of the photographing lens, a lens data reader that readsthe lens data based on the identification data, and an image correctorthat corrects an error in the image of the subject caused by shading,based on the lens data read by the lens data reader and imaging devicedata that indicates the shading characteristics of the imaging device.

A third storage medium according to the present invention, is forstoring lens data that indicates the shading characteristics of aphotographing lens. The third storage medium is detachably attached to acamera body to which a lens unit having the photographing lens and anidentification data memory for storing identification data to identifythe photographing lens is detachably attached, and the camera bodyhaving an imaging device which receives light transmitted through thephotographing lens to generate an image corresponding to a subject, alens data reader that reads the lens data, and an image corrector thatcorrects an error in the image of the subject caused by shading, basedon the lens data read by the lens data reader and imaging device datathat indicates the shading characteristics of the imaging device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the description ofthe preferred embodiments of the invention set forth below together withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the digital single-lens reflex camera ofthe first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart representing a photographed image correctionroutine of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view representing an image which has deteriorateddue to shading, and correction thereof;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual view representing vignetting in a CCD;

FIG. 5 is a view representing an example of the lens data for a firstaperture value;

FIG. 6 is a view representing an example of the lens data for a secondaperture value;

FIG. 7 is a view representing an example of the lens data for a thirdaperture value;

FIG. 8 is a view representing an example of the imaging device data fora first aperture value;

FIG. 9 is a view representing an example of the imaging device data fora second aperture value;

FIG. 10 is a view representing an example of the imaging device data fora third aperture value;

FIG. 11 is a view representing an example of the shading data for thefirst aperture value;

FIG. 12 is a view representing an example of the shading data for thesecond aperture value;

FIG. 13 is a view representing an example of the shading data for thethird aperture value;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the digital single-lens reflex camera ofthe second embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart representing a photographed image correctionroutine of the second embodiment; and

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the digital single-lens reflex camera ofthe third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a blockdiagram of the digital single-lens reflex camera of the firstembodiment.

A digital single-lens reflex camera 10 includes a lens unit 20 having aphotographing lens 22 of a zoom lens, and a camera body 30 to which thelens unit 20 is detachably attached. A plurality of lens units includingthe lens unit 20, can be attached to the camera body 30. The lens unit20 has a lens-side ROM 24 for storing identification data to identifythe photographing lens 22, and a zoom position detecting circuit 26 todetect a zoom position of the photographing lens 22 and transmit zoomposition data (focal distance data) indicating the zoom position of thephotographing lens 22, to the camera body 30. Further, in the lens unit20, an aperture position detecting circuit (not shown) to detect anaperture position and transmit aperture position data indicating theaperture position of the aperture, to the camera body 30, is alsoprovided.

In the camera body 30, a CCD 34 which receives light transmitted throughthe photographing lens 22 and a shutter 32 to generate image signalscorresponding to a subject, is provided. When a shutter button 52 on asurface of the camera body 30 is pressed, the photographing lens 22 isdriven to a predetermined position by a motor (not shown) under acontrol of a system control circuit 48, and the aperture is also drivento be in a predetermined opening position. Further, a shutter drivingcircuit 54 makes the shutter 32 open for a predetermined time based onthe control of the system control circuit 48. As a result of this, theCCD 34 whose operation timing is controlled by a timing generator 50 isexposed, and image signals for indicating the subject are generated inthe CCD 34.

Image signals generated by the CCD 34 are converted from analog todigital by an A/D converter 36. The digitalized image signals aretemporally stored in an image memory 42 after processing by a digitalsignal processing circuit 38. In a camera-side ROM 56, lens dataindicating the shading characteristics of the photographing lensesattachable to the camera body 30 such as the photographing lens 22, andimaging device data indicating the shading characteristics of the CCD 34are both stored as lookup tables.

When the system control circuit 48 reads the identification data, it isrecognized that the used photographing lens is the photographing lens22, and the system control circuit 48 transmits signals to show that thephotographing lens 22 is used, to the digital signal processing circuit38. The digital signal processing circuit 38 receives the signals andreads the lens data and the imaging device data of the photographinglens 22 from the camera-side ROM 56. Further, the digital signalprocessing circuit 38 calculates corrected lens data and correctedimaging device data used for correcting the image signals, in accordancewith need, based on the zoom position of the photographing lens 22 andthe aperture position of the aperture at the photographing time, byinterpolation of the lens data and the imaging device data. Imagesignals are corrected based on these corrected data or based on originaldata when corrected data are not calculated, and after further processessuch as white balance adjustment and gamma correction are conducted, theimage signals are stored in the memory card 46. Then an LCD is drivenbased on the corrected image signals, and a subject image is displayedon the LCD 40.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart representing a photographed image correctionroutine of the first embodiment.

The photographed image correction routine starts when a power switch(not shown) provided on the camera body 30 turns on. At step S11, it isjudged whether the lens unit 20 is attached to the camera body 30 ornot. When it is judged that the lens unit 20 is attached to the camerabody 30, the process proceeds to step S12. At step S12, theidentification data of the photographing lens 22 is read by the systemcontrol circuit 48, and then the process proceeds to step S13. At stepS13, lens data of the photographing lens 22 currently used, is selectedamong a plurality of lens data stored in the camera-side ROM 56, basedon the read identification data. At step S14, it is judged whether theshutter button 52 is pressed or not, and when it is judged that theshutter button 52 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S15.

At step S15, the image signals generated by the CCD 34 due to thephotographing action, that is, image signals representing thephotographed image are stored in the image memory 42, and the processproceeds to step S16. At step S16, the zoom position data indicating thezoom position of the photographing lens 22, and the aperture positiondata indicating the aperture position of the aperture are obtained bythe digital signal processing circuit 38, and the process proceeds tostep S17. At step S17, whether the lens data of the photographing lens22 selected at step S13, and the imaging device data stored in thecamera-side ROM 56, can be used for correcting image or not, that is,whether the calculation of corrected data is necessary or not, isjudged. When it is judged that the calculation of corrected data isnecessary, the process proceeds to step S18, and when it is judged thatthe calculation of corrected data is not necessary, the process proceedsto step S19.

At step S18, the corrected data, that is, corrected lens data andcorrected imaging device data are calculated by interpolation of thelens data and the imaging device data, both stored as lookup tables,based on the zoom position and the aperture position at thephotographing time. At step S19, based on the lens data and imagingdevice data, or the corrected lens data and corrected imaging devicedata, image signals are corrected. That is, the photographed image iscorrected. At the following step S20, the image signals, afterundergoing various processes such as white balance adjustment and gammacorrection, are stored in the memory card 46, that is, the correctedphotographed image is stored. And then, the photographed imagecorrection routine ends.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view representing an image which has deteriorateddue to shading, and correction thereof. FIG. 4 is a conceptual viewrepresenting vignetting occurring due to the CCD 34.

Generally, the amount of incident light at the peripheral area of a lensis smaller than that at the center of the lens, further, vignettingoccurs due to the lens barrel. Therefore, the peripheral area of aphotographed image P1 having a longer distance from the center point C,is darker (see FIG. 3(A)). This shading trend differs from one lens toanother, and further, varies by zoom position (focal distance) andaperture value in the same lens. Therefore, a photographed image P2having constant luminance is formed by correction of the photographedimage P1 to raise the luminance at the peripheral area, by using thelens data representing the shading characteristics of the photographinglens 22 for each zoom position (focal distance) and aperture value (seeFIG. 3(B)).

Further, shading is caused not only by the photographing lens 22 butalso by the CCD 34. Light from a subject approaches pixels located inthe center area of the photographing surface of the CCD 34, at an angleof almost perpendicularly to the photographing surface of the CCD 34,transmits a micro lens 35, and enters to a photo diode 37 (see FIG.4(A)). On the other hand, light from a subject approaches pixels locatedin the peripheral area of the photographing surface of the CCD 34, at anoblique angle to the photographing surface of the CCD 34. Therefore, apart of light transmitted through the micro lens 35 is shut off by aside wall 39, and an amount of incident light that enters the photodiode 37 is smaller than that at the center area of the photographingsurface (see FIG. 4(B)). Because shading is caused not only by thephotographing lens 22 but also by the CCD 34, correction for raisingluminance in the peripheral area of the image in terms of the CCD 34 isalso required, similarly to the correction for shading caused by thephotographing lens 22.

FIGS. 5 to 7 represent examples of the lens data, and FIGS. 8 to 10represent examples of the imaging device data. That is, FIG. 5 is a viewrepresenting an example of the lens data for a first aperture value, andFIGS. 6 and 7 are views representing examples of the lens data forsecond and third aperture values. Similarly to these FIGS. 5 to 7, andFIGS. 8 to 10 are views representing examples of the imaging device datafor first to third aperture values.

To form an image having constant luminance by correcting shading, thelens data (see FIGS. 5 to 7) and the imaging device data (see FIGS. 8 to10) are used. The lens data is unique to a lens, and represents adifference in the amount of light transmitted through the periphery ofthe photographing lens 22 and a light transmitted through the center ofthe photographing lens 22. FIGS. 5 to 7 represent examples of the lensdata, each value indicates the difference between the amount of lighttransmitted through that area, and the light transmitted through thecenter. The unit of each data is a percentage (%).

Here, the outer-most lines of each table of FIGS. 5 to 7, represent theboundaries of the photographing surface of the CCD 34, and each of thelines inside a table divide that surface into partial areas including apredetermined number of pixels. Each value surrounded by the lines,represents an average value of the shading for that partial area. Forexample, in the corner partial areas in the most peripheral part of thephotographing surface of the CCD 34, represented by FIG. 5(A), shadingcaused by the photographing lens 22 is 4(%). As can be seen from theseFIGS., shading caused by the same lens is larger when the focal distance“f” is smaller, and the aperture value “F” is larger.

On the other hand, the imaging device data which is the same kind ofdata as the lens data, represents the difference in the amount of lighttransmitted through lens and entering the periphery of the photographingsurface of an imaging device, and the amount of light transmittedthrough the lens and entering the center of the photographing surface ofan imaging device, when it is assumed that no shading is caused by thelens. Shading caused by imaging device is also larger when the focaldistance “f” is smaller, and the aperture value “F” is larger (see FIGS.8 to 10). Note that the unit of the imaging device data is also apercentage (%).

The digital signal processing circuit 38 can calculate corrected lensdata which is actually used for correcting shading by interpolation ofthe lens data, based on the zoom position data and the aperture positiondata. For example, when the focal distance “f” represented by the zoomposition data is 35 (mm), and the aperture value “F” represented by theaperture position data is 2, new lens data, that is corrected lens data,is calculated by the interpolation of the lens data for the focaldistance “f” being 28 (mm) and the aperture value “F” being 2 in FIG.5(A), and the other lens data for the focal distance “f” being 50 (mm)and the aperture value “F” being 2 in FIG. 5(B). In the interpolation,each value of the corrected lens data is calculated to be between thevalues of corresponding partial areas of the lens data in FIG. 5(A) andFIG. 5(B). Similarly to the corrected lens data, the corrected imagingdevice data is also calculated in accordance with need. Note that whenthe lens data and the imaging device data for the focal distance “f”represented by the zoom position data, and the aperture value “F”represented by the aperture position data already exist, interpolationsof these data are not necessary, because the lens data and the imagingdevice data can be used for correcting shadings.

FIGS. 11 to 13 represent examples of shading data calculated from thelens data and the imaging device data. That is, FIGS. 11 to 13 are viewsrepresenting examples of the shading data for first to third aperturevalues.

The digital signal processing circuit 38 adds the lens data and theimaging device data, so that the shading data is calculated. (see FIGS.11 to 13). Here, the shading data “Sd” (%) which is more precise can becalculated by the operation based on the lens data “Sl” and the imagingdevice data “Sc” as shown by formula (1).

Sd=(1−(1−Sl)/100)×(1−Sc/100)×100  (1)

However, the shading data is calculated by adding the lens data and theimaging device data, because the operation of the formula (1) iscomplex. And when the corrected lens data and the corrected imagingdevice data are calculated, the shading data is calculated based onthese corrected data. An image having constant luminance is formed byraising the luminance at the peripheral area of the image to be raised,based on the shading data.

In the embodiment mentioned above, the lens data representing theshading characteristics unique to each of interchangeable lens, and theimaging device data representing the shading characteristics unique tothe imaging device are previously stored in the camera body 30. The lensdata of the used photographing lens selectively read, and the imagingdevice data are used for correcting image. Thus, shadings of thephotographed image can be suitably corrected in accordance with thecombination of an interchangeable lens and an imaging device.

Note that in the photographed image correction routine, whether thecalculation of corrected data of the lens data and the imaging devicedata is necessary or not is judged (see step S17 of FIG. 2). However,the shading data can be calculated previously to the judgment, andwhether the calculation of corrected shading data is necessary or notcan be judged, instead of the judgment process of the lens data and theimaging device data. The lens data and the imaging device data can havedifferent focal distances or different aperture values to each other,differing from the examples of this embodiment where they are the same(see FIG. 5 to 10). In this case, the necessity of calculating thecorrected data, is judged for the lens data and the imaging device datarespectively.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the digital single-lens reflex camera 10of the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, there are the following differences from the firstembodiment. The lens unit 20 can be attached to and used with aplurality of camera bodies including the camera body 30, and the lensdata is stored in the lens unit 20, not in the camera body 30. The lensdata is stored in the lens-side ROM 24 with the identification data, andthe lens data is stored as full data set. Therefore, when the lens unit20 is attached to a camera body whose imaging device has the largestformat size of the imaging devices included in the camera bodies whichcan be used with the lens unit 20, such as the camera body 30, the lensdata can be used.

The digital signal processing circuit 38 selectively reads a part of, orall of the lens data stored in the lens-side ROM 24 according to theformat size of the CCD 34, and stores the read lens data in the RAM 58.Further, the digital signal processing circuit 38 calculates thecorrected data in accordance with need, based on the zoom position ofthe photographing lens 22 and the aperture position of the aperture atthe time of photographing, by interpolation of the lens data stored inthe RAM 58 and the imaging device data which is read from a memory 60provided in the system control circuit 48, respectively. And then, theshading data is generated from the corrected lens data and the correctedimaging device data, or the original lens data and the original imagingdevice data. The shading data is stored in the RAM 58, and is used forshading correction of a photographed image.

In this second embodiment, differing to the first embodiment, thedigital signal processing circuit 38 reads only the lens data of thelens unit attached to the camera body 30, therefore, the identificationdata to identify the photographing lens is not necessarily required.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart representing a photographed image correctionroutine of the second embodiment.

At step S21, it is judged whether the lens unit 20 is attached to thecamera body 30 or not. When it is judged that the lens unit 20 isattached to the camera body 30, the process proceeds to step S22. Atstep S22, the identification data of the photographing lens 22 is readby the system control circuit 48, and then the process proceeds to stepS23. At step S23, a part of, or all of the lens data of the full dataset stored in the lens-side ROM 24 is read in accordance with the formatsize of the CCD 34, and the read lens data is stored in the RAM 58. Atstep S24, it is judged whether the shutter button 52 is pressed or not,and when it is judged that the shutter button 52 is pressed, the processproceeds to step S25.

At step S25, the image signals generated in the CCD 34 by thephotographing action, that is, signals representing the photographedimage, are stored in the image memory 42, and the process proceeds tostep S26. At step S26, the zoom position data indicating the zoomposition of the photographing lens 22 and the aperture position dataindicating the position of the aperture, are obtained by the digitalsignal processing circuit 38, and the process proceeds to step S27. Atstep S27, whether the lens data stored in the RAM 58 at step S23, andthe imaging device data stored in the memory 60, can be used forcorrecting the image as they are or not, that is, whether thecalculation of corrected data from the stored lens data or the imagingdevice data is necessary or not, is judged. When it is judged that thecalculation of corrected data is necessary, the process proceeds to stepS28, and when it is judged that the calculation of corrected data is notnecessary, the process proceeds to step S29.

At step S28, the corrected data, that is, corrected lens data andcorrected imaging device data are calculated by interpolation of thelens data and the imaging device data, both of which are stored aslookup tables, based on the zoom position and the aperture position atthe time of photographing. At step S29, image signals are correctedbased on the shading data calculated from the lens data, imaging devicedata, or the corrected data. That is, the photographed image iscorrected. At the following step S30, the image signals undergonevarious processes such as white balance adjustment and gamma correction,are stored in the memory card 46, that is, the corrected photographedimage is stored. And then, photographed image correction routine ends.

In the embodiment mentioned above, the full lens data set which can beused with an imaging device having the largest format size of theimaging devices which are possible to use, is previously stored in thelens unit 20, the lens data is read in accordance with the format sizeof the imaging device actually used, and the image is corrected withthese data. Therefore, in case the lens unit 20 can be used with aplurality of camera bodies, shadings of the photographed image can besuitably corrected in accordance with the combination of aninterchangeable lens and an imaging device.

The first embodiment and the second embodiment can be combined. In thiscase, in the camera body 30, the lens data of a plurality ofphotographing lens is stored, the digital signal processing circuit 38can partially read the full lens data set in accordance with the formatsize of the imaging device, and the full lens data set is stored in thelens unit 20. As a result of this, in the digital single-lens reflexcamera 10 where one of a plurality of lens units and one of a pluralityof camera bodies are selected and used as a pair, quality of thephotographed image can be improved in accordance with the combination ofthe lens unit and the camera body.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the digital single-lens reflex camera 10of the third embodiment.

In this embodiment, there are the following differences from the firstand second embodiments. The lens data is stored in the memory card 46,and an EEPROM 62 is provided in the camera body 30 instead of thecamera-side ROM 56 and RAM 58. The lens data is read by the digitalsignal processing circuit 38 from the memory card 46, and stored in theEEPROM 62. The digital signal processing circuit 38 selectively readsthe lens data of the photographing lens 22 currently used among the lensdata stored in the EEPROM 62, based on the identification data of thephotographing lens 22. Further, the digital signal processing circuit 38reads the imaging device data from the memory 60 in the system controlcircuit 48, and calculates shading data from the lens data of thephotographing lens 22 and imaging device data.

In this third embodiment, the EEPROM 62 is not necessarily needed. Whenthe EEPROM 62 is not provided, the digital signal processing circuit 38selectively reads only lens data for the photographing lens being used,that is, the photographing lens 22, based on the identification datafrom the memory card 46.

In the embodiment mentioned above, the camera-side ROM and so on, whichrequire a large capacity for storing all the lens data of thephotographing lens which may be used, are not necessary by storing onlythe required lens data, that is the lens data of the photographing lensbeing actually used such as the photographing lens 22, in the memorycard 46. Further, the lens data can be stored in the memory card 46 bydown loading, therefore, the required lens data can become easilyavailable to users.

The second embodiment and the third embodiment can be combined. In thiscase, the digital signal processing circuit 38 can selectively read apart of the full lens data set in accordance with the format size of theimaging device, and the full lens data set is stored in the memory card46. As a result of this, similarly to combining the first and the secondembodiments, in the digital single-lens reflex camera 10 where one of aplurality of lens units and one of a plurality of camera bodies areselected and used as a pair, quality of the photographed image can beimproved in accordance with the combination of the lens unit and thecamera body.

In any of the embodiments, the photographing lens is not limited to azoom lens, but, for example, it can be a single focal lens. In thiscase, only the data representing the predetermined focal distance of thephotographing lens 22 is transmitted from the zoom position detectingcircuit 26 to the digital signal processing circuit 38.

The imaging device data indicating the shading characteristics of animaging device can be stored in a storage medium, instead of the camerabody 30. And an imaging device is not limited to the CCD 34, forexample, a CMOS sensor whose usage has become possible recently, can beused in any of the embodiments.

In any of the embodiments, the corrected data are calculated byinterpolation of each of the lens data and the imaging device data,however, the shading data can be calculated before the interpolation,and the corrected data of the shading data can be calculated byinterpolation of the shading data.

Finally, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that theforegoing description is of preferred embodiments of the apparatus, andthat various changes and modifications may be made to the presentinvention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

The present disclosure relates to subject matters contained in JapanesePatent Application No. 2005-000620 (filed on Jan. 5, 2005) which isexpressly incorporated herein, by reference, in its entirety.

1. A digital single-lens reflex camera, comprising: a lens unit having aphotographing lens and an identification data memory for storingidentification data to identify the photographing lens; a storage mediumfor storing lens data that indicates shading characteristics of thephotographing lens; and a camera body to which the lens unit and thestorage medium are detachably attached, having an imaging device whichreceives light transmitted through the photographing lens to generate animage corresponding to a subject, a lens data reader that reads the lensdata based on the identification data, and an image corrector thatcorrects an error in the image of the subject caused by shading, basedon the lens data read by the lens data reader and imaging device datathat indicates shading characteristics of the imaging device.
 2. Acamera body to which a lens unit having a photographing lens and anidentification data memory for storing identification data to identifythe photographing lens, and a storage medium for storing lens data thatindicates shading characteristics of the photographing lens, aredetachably attached, comprising: an imaging device which receives lighttransmitted through the photographing lens to generate an imagecorresponding to a subject; a lens data memory for storing lens datathat indicates shading characteristics of the photographing lens; a lensdata reader that reads the lens data based on the identification data;and an image corrector that corrects an error in the image of thesubject caused by shading, based on the lens data read by the lens datareader and imaging device data that indicates shading characteristics ofthe imaging device.
 3. The digital single-lens reflex camera accordingto claim 1, wherein the lens data reader can selectively read a part ofthe lens data according to a format size of the imaging device.
 4. Thecamera body according to claim 2, wherein the lens data reader canselectively read a part of the lens data according to a format size ofthe imaging device.
 5. The digital single-lens reflex camera accordingto claim 1, wherein the storage medium is provided separate from thelens unit.
 6. The digital single-lens reflex camera according to claim1, wherein the storage medium comprises a memory card provided separatefrom the lens unit.
 7. The digital single-lens reflex camera accordingto claim 1, wherein the storage medium is not provided in the lens unit.8. The digital single-lens reflect camera according to claim 1, whereinthe storage medium is detachably attached to the camera body.
 9. Thecamera body according to claim 2, wherein the storage medium is providedseparate from the lens unit.
 10. The camera body according to claim 2,wherein the storage medium comprises a memory card provided separatefrom the lens unit.
 11. The camera body according to claim 2, whereinthe storage medium is not provided in the lens unit.
 12. The camera bodyaccording to claim 2, wherein the storage medium is detachably attachedto the camera body.